Method of treating long-grained fibrous materials



T. WENSEL May 2l, 1929.

METHOD 0F TREATING LONG GRAINED FIBRoUs MATERIALS Filed Nov. 28, 1927 Patented May 2l, i929.

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ltl'i' THEQDOR 'VENSEL OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

Application filed November 28, 192'?.

This invention relates to improvements in methods of treating long grained fibrous materials and in the structures made therefrom and it consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended clainis.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a novel method whereby certain \voo ls, hambof.) and cane and the like are reduced in bulli and made more dense so that their natural characteristics are changed to better adapt them for use in certain built up structures such as fishing rods, golf clubs and the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method for this purpose which includes the use of pr sure or compression in the presence of heat whereby the natural resins of the materials treated are softened by the heat so that the air cells and voids therein may be collapsed under pressure and held in this condition by glomerated action of the resin to give the desired density and reduced bulk to the material treated.

A. further ohject of the inventionis to provide a built up shaft or rod structure made from material thus treated, which has the desired strength and flexibility but which will be of a minimum Weight.

'.lhe above mentioned objects of the invention as Vwell. as others, together with the many advantages thereof will more fully appear as l proceed With my speciiication.

rlhe iniproved method is especially adapted for use in treating certain long and suhstai'itially straight grained woods such as hickory and ash and for treating bamboo and cane and will be described more specifically with bamboo as the material treated, but this to be considered as by way of illustration only and not by iva-y of limitation because from the matters hereinafter ilolloiving the treating of such woods and cane will become apparent.

ln the drawings:

Fig. l is ak view in elevation of a piece of bamboo with parts broken away to more clearly show the structure thereof.

l" 2 an end view ofthe same on an enhirged scale when split into halves.

Fig. 3 is an end view of a split stripafter the halves shown in Fig. 2 have been further split up to produce the same.

Fig. Ll is a top plan view of means for paralleling the `iatcnal edges of a split strip Serial No. 235,31.

before it is placed in the certain dies for further operations. Y

Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation of apair of coacting dies by which the split strips, one of which is shown in Fig. 3, are acted upon as Will later appear.

Fig. t3 is an ond view of the pair of dies shown in Fig. 5 when in position to receive the split strip of Fig.

Fig. 7 is a viev.1 similar to Fig. 6 with the parts in a changed relation from that shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a view in end elevation of the strip on an enlarged scale after it has been compressed and straightened in the dies and illustrates the method of producing a segmental or wedge shaped strip part, two of which are later used to provide a composite section, which sections are adapted to be grouped together to form a finished rod of a comparatively large cross section.

Fig. 9 is a detail View showing how tivo of the segmental strip parts, produced as shown in Fig. 8 are brought together to form a composite strip of triangular cross section for shafts or rods of comparatively large cross section.

Fig. 10 is an end view of a shaft or rod embodying my invention as made up from the duplex segmental strips of Fig. 9.

Fig. il is an end viev7 of a straightened strip of smaller cross section and illustrates the method of treating the same to provide single segmental strips of triangular shape to form a rod or shaft of a smaller' cross sectional area than that shown in Fig. l0.

Fig. 1Q. is a vien' in end elevation of the rod of smaller cross section made up from the segmental strips of Fig. 11.

Figs. 13 and ll are views in end elevations of rods of composite structures and which will be more fully referred to later.

Fig. 15 is a view illustrating' the method of applying an encircling pressure to a grouped complement of finished strips to bind them together under pressure for the setting of the adhesive.

Among the various materials Which may be treated in accordance With the invention, l lind that bamboo has those characteristics best adapting it not only to my improved method but also to the use in making built up shafts or rods. Bamboo which is classed as a member of the cane family, has a long substantially straight fibrous with `or node. The outer skin 4 of the body which is often referred to as the enamelf is dense and more compact in its fibrous `arrangement than the inner portion 5 of the body which is more er less ithy. The fibers or grain of the bodyV are substantially straight from end to end and said body has the characteristic ol' permitting` a splitting or eleaving which follows the fibers or grain. y Y

ln carrying out thefimproved method so far as relates to using bamboo as the material operated upon9 l take a piece of bamboo l of suitable .length andremove the nodes 2 therefrom in any suitable manner to provide a smooth uninterrupted exterior surface. V The Lamboo 1s then splitlongitudinally, preferably into halves as best shown in Fig.` 2 after which the transverse wallsV left by the diaphragm portions 3 during this splitting, are'removed in any suitable manner to leavea smooth interior surface. By splitting lv donot mean ripping with a saw, but l employ a clearing action wherein the splitting follows the grain so that the fibers are not cuttra-nsversely as would happenin sawing; the latter cutting theliberkv f ends which l Wish to avoid.

AfterV the diaphragm portions have been removed from the two halves thus split,V lfurther split each half intoY the desired number of smaller r and `trapezoidal sections 6; one of lwhich 1s best shown in Fig. 3. Because ofthe foltions are carriedrout thereon lirst to bring edges are straight or undulating." 1

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lowing ofthe grain in splitting, it is apparent that the lateral edges of each sectionV will not be exactly straight or parallel and the inner and outer surface of each section Vwill bel vconcave-conv as Vreadily apparent.

`After sucha'sect-ion 5 has been produced, l find it advantageous before other operathe lateral Vedges of said sections into parallelism, :n.respective'of whether ornot the l provide..v a motor'driven grinding `wheel. 7 having a bevelled end 8which may be readily mounted on a suitable support.

ln said support l. provide an upright guide pin 9 arranged with reference to the bevelled end .8 of the grinding wheel as bestshown in `Fig. 7. Vl take one ofthe sections o and arrange it substantially parallel with one side Vof said bevelled facev 8. This will bring one edge @of the section against the guide pm 9 and will bring the other edge 6b against said wheel/tacev 8 so that u )on an endwisemovement beingy given to thefsection 6 the edge 6b will be Ground down to be parallelrpwith the edge 6a even though the To this Y latter be undulating at one part of its length and straight at another part of its length. The section 6 is then turned end for end and the edge Ga is ground in a similar manner. ln this manner the fibers in said edoe (ia- 6b are not cut to leaveexpose'd ends.

After the edges 66) are thus brought to parallelism l subject thesection to the a :tion of pressure in the presence of heat not only to reduce its bullnand increase its density but also to straighten the'lateral edges thereof as well as toiletten out the concave-convex top and bottom surfaces so that tl'ie section will be rectangular in cross'section in-4 stead of trapezoidal as before mentioned. `To this end l provide a press capable of being heated and Vincluding coacting die members and such a press is best shown in Figs. 5, Gand 7. T he press herein shown is typical yofthe most simple form of ress by which the certain steps of the improved method maybe vcarried out.` lt comprises an elongated heavy metal bloeit l() mounted on legs ll and in the top 'of said block along the median line thereof is provided an upwardly opening longitudinally extending groove l2 which forms the female `die 'of the press.

'l1 he bottom surface 13 of sait groove in said.

block is Ltlat'and the sides of said grooves are partly upright and parallel asat la and partly upwardly and outwardly diverging as at l5 to provide a wider. mouth 1G thereL for.V Beneath said block and supported from the legs thereofis a burner pipe 17 by which the female die block as a whole maybe heated. l Associated with thisr female die is a male dieV 18 in the form of an elongated blocltof il" shaped cross section and ineluding a top wall'l) and a depending rib 2O corresponding to and adapted for a snug litting engagement in the bottom portion of the.

female die groove l2. Along the lateral margins of the male dieV blocl; lv provide aV plurality bolts or screws 2l adapted to ktends to flatten up said section. ln this position', said section will absorb heat from the temaley die alter which. the natural resins bec-ome somewhat softened. Further -pressure is then imposed upon the male die by means ofthe screws so that the section will change its shape as is imparted Ato it in the press,A the* concave surfacesfflattening out and the lateral edges straightening out in di built up shaft or rod.

` vio such Wedge shaped strip about a coiniiion axis and applying an encircling pressure thereto until the adhesive sets to provide 2. Thel method herein described which consists in providing a length of substantially straight grained i'ibrous material,

splitting the saine With the grain into a plura-lit-y oi' strips of substantially rectangular cross section, straightening each strip by a Y confining pressure in the presence oi heat, "and at the saine tiine `correctingthe rectangulairross section thereoi, i'esplitting each corrected strip to provide wedge 'shaped strip parts; of sinaller cross section, applying an adhesive thereto7 grouping a full complement of suchwedge shaped. strips about a coinnion axis to provide a built up shaft'l or rod and then confining the saine by an encircling pressure until said adhesive 1 sets. i

3. The niethod herein described which oonsists inA providing a lengtn of substantially vstraight' grained iibrous material, splitting the sanieWith the grain 'into' a plu- V,rality `of strips or" substantially rectangular cr ss section, straightening each strip by a confining pressure in the presence of heat,

`brons materials7 splitting each length into a plurality of strips straightening Veachstrip and increasing the density thereof by aconiiiiing action in the presence oi' heat, making each strip Wedge shaped in cross section, applying an adhesive to such strips of ditferent kinds of materials,V grouping thein about a coininon axis and confining tlieiii in this relation until theadhesive has set, saidstripsol diilerent niaterialsbeing arranged in alternation. l A

Intestiniony whereof, I have hereunto set niy'hand, this 16th day of November, 1927.

Y i Ti-iiionoiiiviinsiiii. 

